Chapter 869 NERO'S OATH
NERO WAS back.
Earlier, he was summoned by the stupid Eternal Flame while he had only started talking to Neoma of the first timeline.
Fortunately, he found his way back easily.
"I apologize for suddenly disappearing," Nero said when he faced Neoma of the first timeline again. "The stupid Eternal Flame summoned me without my permission."
Neoma of the first timeline laughed softly. "The Eternal Flame can burn everything and anything in the world, Prince Nero– even gods."
It was weird to hear Neoma call him 'Prince Nero.'
[But I suppose that's how distant we were to each other in the first timeline.]
"I don't need the Eternal Flame," Nero said firmly. "Moreover, it belongs to Neoma. I won't take something that belongs to her, even if she's willing to share it with me."
"It's still a shame, though. The Eternal Flame is a useful tool."
"I am the boy who has everything."
"Hmm?"
"Neoma always says I'm the boy who has everything," Nero explained. "Unlike Neoma who has to work hard ever since we were toddlers just to get the basic rights that the empire denied from her, I was treated with respect the moment I was born. I was lucky to be born a male because it automatically made me the emperor's heir. Even the crows were lenient of me because I was the heir to the throne. On top of that, my existence as a male Roseheart is also special. Ever since we were young, I'm superior to Neoma in every aspect."
"Superior to her in every aspect? You're arrogant, huh?"
"I'm merely stating a fact," he said. "Neoma calls it 'male privilege,' though. Since it's true that I was treated well because of the thing between my legs, I wasn't able to refute it."
The other Neoma fell silent for a moment, then she smiled while shaking her head. "It sounds like you have a good relationship with your twin sister."
"Neoma worked hard to win me over when we were kids."
"I resented the Nero from my timeline," the other Neoma said. "I was jealous of his luck for being born a male successor. It was probably the reason why I kept quiet even though I knew our old nanny was poisoning him." She then smiled bitterly. "And when we got older, I threatened the love of his life and forced her to make a spell that would tie my life force with Nero. No wonder he resented me."
"It was Nero's fault for being weak," Nero said, scoffing at his past self. "If he were stronger, he would have noticed that he was being poisoned. Moreover, he didn't use his privilege to protect his twin sister. Even if he died from that, I still wouldn't blame you for that."
In conclusion, Neoma didn't do anything wrong.
[Neoma could never do or say anything wrong, especially towards me.]
"You really love the Neoma of this timeline, huh?"
"I can't say that Nero of the first timeline loved you," Nero said awkwardly, avoiding the other Neoma's gaze. "When I retrieved some of my memories and found out that I killed Neoma in the first timeline, I swore on myself that I would never let it happen again."
"Oh, I can see you're doing a great job keeping that promise to yourself."
"I won't apologize to you."
"Well, I didn't come here to receive an apology from you, so I really don't care."
"Good," Nero said, then he faced the other Neoma again. "It wasn't me who killed you, so I don't want to apologize for something that my stupid past self did. Instead of an apology, I will give you an oath."
"An oath?"
"I will give Neoma all the love that the Nero of the first timeline failed to give her," Nero promised. "I already love the current Neoma with all my heart, but there will always be more space in my heart to love her harder."
"You're being creepy," the other Neoma said bluntly. "I don't think the current Neoma would like it if her twin brother loved her that much."
Nero smirked confidently. "Neoma enjoys the way I love her, so don't worry about it."
"I'm not worried– but I'm a little jealous."
Nero flinched.
[Blast that Nero of the first timeline. How could he not love his Neoma? I guess he wasn't only stupid– he was also blind for him not to see how lovable his twin sister was.]
"Emperor Nero and I had a terrible relationship before he killed me," the other Neoma said. "After Commander Yoan revived me, Emperor Nero and I were forced to work together because he was my Heart Pillar."
'Heart Pillar?'
Nero vaguely remembered that Neoma mentioned something about having her Four Pillars. And now that the other Neoma had mentioned it, he kind of remembered that his past stupid self had a duty aside from being the emperor.
[So, what does a Heart Pillar exactly do?]
"It was only for a short moment, but Emperor Nero and I got a bit closer," the other Neoma reminisced with a soft look on her face. "You can say that we've forgiven each other before he died. It's just a shame that our time together was cut short by his untimely death."
"Dying early must have been karma for mistreating his twin sister."
The other Neoma looked surprised by what he said, then she laughed while shaking her head. "Emperor Nikolai was a male Roseheart, hence his soul was special. There were a few times that we got to talk to each other even after he was gone. He also visited me once before Commander Yoan turned back time. And he asked me for one thing. Would you like to guess what it was, Prince Nero?"
"Since you're here to meet me, the past me probably left a message for me."
"That's correct," the other Neoma said, nodding. Then she turned serious. "Emperor Nero asked me to tell you to "figure it out yourself.""
"…"
"Emperor Nero didn't want me to help you. He even warned me about giving you a clue. Since it was my twin brother's last request, I don't have the heart to disobey him."
"You don't have to," Nero said, scoffing. "I don't need the past Nero's memories to figure out what to do. And I also do not have any intention to ask you for help."
"Don't be too arrogant, Nero de Moonasterio."
"It's Nero Roseheart de Moonasterio now."
The other Neoma just looked at him, then she sighed and shook her head. "Come here, you cheeky brat."
Nero didn't know what happened to him, but he found himself walking towards the other Neoma obediently.
[What the…?]
His body moved on its own!
"Good," the other Neoma said when Nero stopped in front of her. Then she gently patted his head. "Emperor Nero asked me to not help you, but he didn't say I wasn't allowed to give you a gift."
"So, you're giving me a gift?"
"I already did," the other Neoma said, pulling her hand away from his head. "Once."
"Hmm?"
"You may summon the Spirit of Emperor Nero once," the other Neoma said. "Once you do, you may spend a considerable amount of time with him. I saved a few of my good karma points so that you and Emperor Nero could meet. Of course, you're free to send him away as soon as you don't find him useful anymore even before the allotted time ends."
"That's too extravagant for a gift."
"Well, you may be a rude brat, but you're still my little brother."
He knitted his eyebrows. "Just because you were born first doesn't make you my older sister."
"You're really Emperor Nero, huh?"
He couldn't say anything back.
Not when Neoma of the first timeline smiled warmly at him for the first time.
Nero clenched his hands tight when the guilt in his heart suffocated him.
[I can't believe I killed Neoma in the first timeline.]
"Be good to Neoma, Prince Nero," the other Neoma said softly. Then her face darkened. "And once you become the emperor, if you get the chance to do it, then destroy the throne."
"I can't do that since Neoma needs to be the empress regnant first."
"The throne is influenced by La– argh!" the other Neoma grabbed her throat, her beautiful face distorted in pain. "Don't let your Lunacy take over… she will… don't listen… her power…!"
Nero knitted his eyebrows, confused. "I can barely hear you, Neoma."
The other Neoma's words were being blocked by a static noise.
It was as if she was saying things she wasn't supposed to say, and it seemed like she was being punished for it.
[Tsk.]
"It's okay! Don't tell me anything!" Nero said worriedly, then he pulled Neoma for a hug to stop his twin sister from speaking. "This is why the past me didn't want you to help me, silly. It wasn't because he hated me, but because he knew you'd get punished if you told me things you aren't allowed to say."
"But–"
"I'll figure it out myself," he promised her. "So, don't worry about me. I will become the emperor that Neoma will be proud of. Hence, you can leave me now. You deserve to rest in peace this time, Neoma."
"When did you grow up?" the other Neoma asked, laughing softly. Then she carefully wrapped her arms around him. "Be careful of your heart, Nero. Don't love anyone too much."
"It's too late for that, Neoma," Nero said, smiling bitterly. "I already love Neoma to death."
***
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